Phoenix Suns Waive Mickael Pietrus

Posted on Dec 22, 2011

After failing in attempts to get a dozen Tim Horton's donuts (actually, a second round pick) from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for guard Mickael Pietrus, the Suns reached a buyout agreement with Pietrus and waived him, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. Pietrus will forfeit $1.2M of his $5.3M salary in the deal and will be free to sign with any team after he clears waivers; the Suns will be rid of a player whose knee injury caused the trade with the Raptors to be voided, and who never found a fit in Phoenix.

Pietrus was acquired in a blockbuster trade last December, in which the Suns acquired Marcin Gortat, Vince Carter, Pietrus and a 1st round pick in exchange for Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark. He showed flashes of being the physical, defensively-oriented wing player he is reputed to be, but also displayed poor shot selection, a clownish personality, and complained this past offseason that he wanted off the team. It was apparent that both he and the team were ready to move on and it must have disappointed all parties when his knee injury derailed the deal with Toronto.